Church Bell Maintenance, Bell Repair and Bell Restoration
We offer bell church bell repair using our own in-house installers that will come to site and install parts for your bell or turnkey bell carillon for your university, church bell tower, or community bell.
When a historic church bell falls silent, it's more than just a mechanical problem—it's the voice of your community that's been lost. At McShane Bell Company, we've been casting and restoring bells since 1856. That means we don't just fix bells—we understand them from the inside out, because we still craft them using the same traditional methods our founders perfected 170 years ago.
Whether your bell has a crack, severe corrosion, or failing hardware, we bring foundry-trained expertise to every restoration project. We've cast over 300,000 bells for churches, universities, courthouses, and municipal buildings across America. That knowledge informs every restoration we undertake.
Why Foundry Knowledge Matters for Restoration
Most companies can repair a bell. We understand how bells were born.
When you cast 300,000 bells over 170 years, you learn things that can't be taught any other way. We know how bells were designed to resonate because we design them. We understand the metallurgy because we still mix the bronze the traditional way. We can identify which foundry cast your bell—Meneely, Whitechapel, Vanduzen, or dozens of others—and we understand their specific techniques and characteristics.
This matters because every foundry had its own approach to bell making. A Meneely bell from 1891 responds differently to restoration than a Vanduzen bell from 1868. We know these differences because we've studied the techniques of every major American bell foundry. When we restore your bell, we're not just fixing damage—we're preserving the original maker's craftsmanship.
That's the McShane difference. We understand bells from creation to resurrection.
Our Bell Restoration Services
We handle everything from minor mechanical repairs to complete historic restorations. Our clients include churches, universities, colleges, courthouses, and community bell installations across the United States. Here's what we can do for your bells.
Complete Restoration
When a bell has extensive damage or years of neglect, it needs more than a quick fix. Our complete restoration service brings bells back to their original condition—or better.
We take bells through a comprehensive seven-step refurbishing process that removes decades of corrosion and oxidation, then progressively prepares and polishes the surface. If your bell has cracks, we evaluate whether specialized welding can repair them or if recasting is the better choice. We restore or replace worn wheels, frames, yokes, and hardware. We apply protective coatings and verify that the bell's acoustic properties match its original specifications.
The result? A bell that looks beautiful and sounds exactly as its original maker intended.
→ Learn more about our seven-step refurbishing process
Carillon Restoration
We don't just restore individual bells—we restore complete carillon systems too.
From single bells to full carillons with dozens of bells, we handle turnkey restoration and installation for universities, churches, and community bell towers. Our in-house installers come to your site and coordinate with other trades to ensure a smooth, cost-effective installation process.
→ Explore our carillon services
Mechanical Repair & Upgrades
Bronze bells last for centuries. The mechanical parts don't.
Yokes crack. Bearings wear out. Wheels deteriorate. Clappers lose their alignment. If your bell won't ring properly or swings irregularly, the problem is usually in the hardware, not the bell itself.
We manufacture and install replacement parts for bells from any foundry. Whether you need a new yoke, bearing assembly, wheel, complete frame, or any other component, we can provide it. We can restore existing wheels and frames back to new condition depending on your project requirements. We also upgrade older manual systems with modern automated striking equipment and bell swinging motors that make maintenance easier while preserving your bell's traditional sound.
→ Browse our bell parts and hardware
Crack Repair & Welding
Not every cracked bell needs to be recast. But not every crack can be repaired, either.
We use specialized welding techniques developed over decades of foundry work to repair cracks when it's feasible. The key word is "when." Some cracks are in locations or orientations that make welding ineffective. Some bells have damage so extensive that recasting is the only way to restore proper tone and safety.
We'll give you honest guidance. We have the capability to both weld and recast bells, so we're not trying to sell you one service over the other. We just want your bell ringing safely and beautifully.
→ Can your cracked bell be repaired? Learn more
Historic Bell Preservation
When your bell was cast in 1867, every restoration decision needs to respect that history.
We work with churches, historical societies, and preservation organizations to restore bells while maintaining their historical integrity. That means documenting the bell's provenance, preserving original patina when appropriate, and using techniques that honor the original maker's craftsmanship.
We've restored bells from nearly every major American foundry: Meneely Bell Foundry, Vanduzen, Whitechapel, and many others. We maintain historical documentation dating back to 1870, so we often have records of bells we—or our predecessors—originally cast.
Your historic bell tells a story. Our job is to make sure it keeps telling that story for another century.
Weather Damage Restoration
Bells in exposed towers face harsh conditions year after year.
Subject to weather extremes—from freezing winters to scorching summers, driving rain to ice storms—bells and their supporting hardware take a beating. Even the finest bronze bell eventually needs attention when its mounting system corrodes, its wheel degrades, or decades of moisture create structural concerns.
We specialize in restoring bells that have weathered decades in exposed towers. Often these one-of-a-kind historic bells haven't rung in years because the supporting structure became unsafe. We can make your bells swing again for the first time in years, bringing that sound back to your community.
The periodic overhaul is well worth the effort when you hear the sound of bells pealing again.
Professional Installation Services
Quality installation is just as important as quality restoration.
In-House Installers
We use our own bonded and insured installers—not outsourced company representatives. Our installation team comes to your site with the proper tools and expertise to ensure quality workmanship. We coordinate with other trades during your project to ensure a smooth, cost-effective installation process.
By keeping installation in-house, we maintain quality control. The McShane name stands behind every bell we install. Whether it's a single bell, complete bell parts replacement, or a turnkey carillon installation for your university, church, courthouse, or community bell tower, we handle it from start to finish.
Installation Advisory
Prefer to handle installation yourself? We can help with that too.
We provide expert guidance throughout your construction phase and help remedy any problems that arise during installation. Our decades of experience mean we've seen every installation challenge imaginable—and we know how to solve them.
Signs Your Bell Needs Restoration
How do you know it's time to call us? Here are the warning signs:
The sound has changed. If your bell sounds dull, uneven, or has developed a cracked tone, something is wrong.
You can see cracks. Even hairline cracks can worsen quickly. Get them evaluated.
There's severe corrosion or pitting. Surface oxidation is normal on old bronze. Deep corrosion from years of weather exposure isn't.
Hardware has failed. Broken yokes, worn bearings, or deteriorated wheels make ringing unsafe.
The mounting structure looks unsafe. If the frame, support beams, or tower structure shows damage from weather or age, stop ringing the bell immediately.
The bell won't ring or swings irregularly. This usually means mechanical problems, not bell damage.
Your historic bell hasn't been maintained. Even bells that seem fine can have hidden problems after decades without professional inspection.
Not sure what your bell needs? Contact us for a free assessment. We'll tell you exactly what's required and what it will cost. No surprises.
What to Expect: Our Restoration Process
Every restoration starts with understanding your bell and your goals. Here's how we work.
Step 1: Assessment
We begin with a thorough visual inspection and documentation. We perform acoustic analysis to understand how your bell is currently performing. For historic bells, we research the original foundry and casting date. We evaluate all damage and wear, including weather-related deterioration. Then we give you our recommendation: restore, repair, or in rare cases, recast.
Step 2: Project Planning
Once you approve the scope, we provide a detailed timeline and pricing. We decide whether the work can be done on-site or needs to happen at our workshop. We coordinate scheduling with you and any other trades involved in your project.
Step 3: Restoration Work
This is where our 170 years of foundry knowledge makes the difference. Whether we're in your bell tower or our workshop, we treat every bell as if it's the only one we're working on. Our bonded and insured installers ensure quality workmanship at every stage.
Step 4: Testing & Reinstallation
Before any bell goes back into service, we verify the restoration quality. We test the acoustic properties to ensure proper tone. We check all mechanical systems for safety and function. Our installation team handles reinstallation with the proper tools and expertise. When complete, we provide full documentation of everything we've done.
Why Choose McShane for Bell Restoration
We've been doing this since 1856. That's not just a tagline—it's 170 years of accumulated knowledge about how bells are made, how they age, and how to restore them properly. This picture to the right is the cover of our 1906 catalog!
We've cast over 300,000 bells. Every bell we restore benefits from that casting experience. We understand bronze metallurgy, acoustic design, and traditional craftsmanship at a level that comes only from actually making bells.
We understand every major foundry's techniques. When we see a Meneely bell from Troy, New York, we know how they designed their yokes. When we work on a Whitechapel bell, we understand their tuning approach. That knowledge matters.
Our installers are bonded and insured. We don't outsource to company representatives. Our own installation team ensures quality control with the McShane name behind every project.
We serve diverse clients nationwide. Churches, universities, colleges, courthouses, and community bell installations across America trust McShane for restoration. We handle all the logistics, no matter where you are.
We have complete documentation back to 1870. If we originally cast your bell, we probably still have the records. That helps us restore it correctly.
Casting and restoration under one roof. We're not just repairmen. We're bell makers. That makes all the difference.
We've been featured on CBS News, Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs, and Bloomberg. But what matters more is the voice we've restored to thousands of communities.
Restoration vs. Replacement: Making the Right Choice
Here's the truth: most bells can be restored.
Bronze lasts for centuries. Bells cast in 1850 still ring beautifully today—if they've been cared for properly. Even bells with significant damage from weather exposure or decades of neglect can often be saved.
Restoration makes sense when:
- The bell has historical significance
- The structural integrity is sound
- The cost is reasonable compared to replacement
- You want to preserve the original bell's character and sound
Recasting is better when:
- Damage is too severe for practical repair
- The bell has safety concerns that can't be addressed through welding or restoration
- You're significantly upgrading your system (like going from one bell to multiple)
- A new bell better serves your musical or operational needs
We'll always give you honest guidance. We can restore, weld, and recast bells, so we're not pushing you toward one solution over the other. We just want you to make the right choice for your church, university, courthouse, or community.
Related Services:
- Bell Refurbishing Process — See our complete seven-step restoration methodology
- Can a Cracked Bell Be Repaired? — Understanding your options for crack repair vs. recasting
- Bell Carillons — Complete carillon systems for churches, universities, and community installations
- Pre-Owned & Reconditioned Bells for Sale — If restoration isn't viable, consider one of our restored antique bells
- Bell Parts & Hardware — Replacement components for bells from any foundry
- Our Bell Casting History — Learn how we make bells the traditional way
